Pakistan's ongoing misinformation campaign suffered another blow after its attempt to portray a known terrorist as an “innocent preacher” was exposed as a deliberate falsehood. The individual in question—presented as a cleric leading funeral prayers for slain militants—was revealed to be a US-designated global terrorist.
During a press conference, Pakistan’s Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG-ISPR), Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif, showcased the national ID card of a man named Abdul Rauf, claiming he was merely a preacher affiliated with the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML).
However, scrutiny of the ID card and biographical data provided during the briefing unraveled this narrative. It was determined that the man in question was Hafiz Abdul Rauf, not a preacher or the brother of slain Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, as suggested. Instead, he is a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative and has been listed by the US Department of the Treasury as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
The ID number displayed by Lt Gen Sharif—35202-5400413-9—matches the one listed by the US Treasury and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for Hafiz Abdul Rauf. The same listings also include Lt Gen Sharif’s father, Mahmood Sultan Bashiruddin, as a designated terrorist with alleged ties to al-Qaida.
The revelation further undermines Pakistan's credibility, especially as it occurred during a press briefing tied to Operation Sindoor, where another startling claim was made. A Pakistan Air Force officer at the event referenced "tactical brilliance" demonstrated in Pulwama, a statement widely interpreted as a veiled acknowledgement of Pakistan's involvement in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, which killed 40 Indian paramilitary personnel.
Despite the mounting evidence, Pakistani officials continued to deny India’s assertions about Abdul Rauf's terrorist affiliations. However, Indian intelligence had already identified Hafiz Abdul Rauf in a photograph taken during the burial ceremony of militants—a photo that also included high-ranking Pakistani military and police officials, such as Lt Gen Fayyaz Hussain Shah and Inspector General Usman Anwar.
According to the US Treasury Department, Hafiz Abdul Rauf has been a senior leader within Lashkar-e-Taiba since 1999. He also heads the Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation, a front organization for LeT that disguises terror operations under the cover of humanitarian relief.
This latest exposure adds to the growing body of evidence that points to Pakistan’s use of state machinery to shield and promote internationally sanctioned terrorists, all while attempting to manipulate public perception through misinformation.
